Removable index-tag.



J. O. RICHARDS. REMOVABLE INDEX TAG. APPLIGATION FILED MIAY 17. 1907.

968,802. Patented Aug.30,1910.

THE NoRRls PsrERs co., wAsnmoYaN. n. c.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.V

JOHN O. RICHARDS, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR TO RICHARDS TAG COMPANY,

OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, A CORPORATION.

REMOVABLE INDEX-TAG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led May 17, 1907.

Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

Serial No. 374,241.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN O. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Removable Index- Tags, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to removable index tags and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device upon the outer faces of which are print-ed the names of ledger accounts, cities, townships, States, numbers, letters of the alphabet, months, etc.; which tags are adapted to be attached to the outer edge or margin of the leaves so that a portion thereof projects beyond the edge of the leaf by means of which the book may be opened at once at the page wanted.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a` part of this specification and wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views: Figure 1, is a perspective view showing the index tags as applied to the leaves of a book. Fig. 2, is a plan view of one of the tags with the index covering removed, showing the same as gripping or applied to a leaf. Fig. 3, is a vertical sectional view thereof on line U-.fc of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a perspective view of one of the gripping or tag-plates. Fig. 5, is a similar view showing the second gripping or tag plate. Fig. 6, is a perspective view of the wedge.

Referring to the drawings the reference characters 1, and 2, designate the gripping 0r tag plates which are provided with a plurality of cuts or slits 3, which are in spaced and parallel relation with one another and run at right angles to the edge of the leaf to which the tags are attached, the outer end of the slits 3, terminating at the center of the plates as clearly shown in Fig. 2, of the drawings. Each alternate bridge 4, formed by slitting the plates is convex as at 5, just enough to form a pocket 7, for the bridges 4. By slightly convexing the bridges 4, as just explained it affords a rather smooth outer surface which is desirable in a device of this class. Vhen the plates 1 and 2, are placed together or engaged the bridges 5, seat in the seats 7, of the slightly depressed bridges 6, and a pivot pin 8, 1s passed through the openings formed by the bridges thus making a pivot connection between the two plates. It will be observed that the pivot point or hinge is not centrally located upon the plates but intermediate the center line of the plates and the edge gripping the paper thus making the clamping jaws 9 and 10, of a less width than the remaining portions 11 and 12, of the plates on the opposite side of the pivot or hinge point.

Interposed between the wider portions l1 and 12, of the plates is a removable wedge plate 13, which has parallel sides or faces 14 and 15, and is provided at one end with the rounded head 16, having the outwardly extending sides or flanges 17, which form a pair of shoulders 18, which makes it easyto remove the wedge plate'13, from between the index ends 11 and 12 owing to the fact that the operator may insert his nger nails between the flanges 17, and the inward curved edges 19 and 20 of the plates to readily remove the wedge. It will be 0bserved that the wedge plate is provided on opposite sides with the recesses or grooves 19 adapted to receive the inwardly extending edges 19 and 20 of the plates 1 and 2, thus firmly holding the wedge in place. The shoulders 18 formed by the flanges 17 of the head 16 it will be readily seen protect the rear edges of the spring tag plates, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. It should be observed that the wedge-plate 13, is independent of the plates 1 and 2, and not permanently connected therewith in any manner. When the wedge plate is removed from between the index ends 11 and 12, the clamping jaws are free to open to receive any body of paper or the like to be indexed.

Owing to the manner of forming the pivot or hinge the inner contacting faces of the bridges 4, serve as hinges and allow the plates to rock. After the leaf or leaves of a book are placed in position between the clamping jaws, the wedge 13 is inserted between the index-ends 11 and 12 of the .plates thus causing the clampin of the leaf or leaves and holding of the index tags firmly in position. It should here be lobserved that the entire inner faces of the clamping jaws 9 and l0 engage the body, or leaf to be held, and not merely the inner edge of the jaws, thus forming a powerful gripping means.

Owing to the thinness of the plates 1 and 2, they are capable of being hinged so that nog the inner faces of the plates are quite close together but far enough apart to permit a rather thick leaf or the like to be inserted between the clamping jaws. By this arrangement it is also possible to firmly hold the tags to the thinnest kind of tissue paper, this belng possible for the reason that the index ends may be sprung somewhat when inserting the wedge plate and by having the entire inner surface of the jaws grip the leaf. The outer faces of the plates are covered with leather tabs or the like on which are printed or written the names of ledger accounts, etc., as above described.

These index tags can be instantly applied. or removed to another leaf by simply inserting or removing wedge plate 13; thus the tags positively stay where they are put and do not tear or mutilate the leaves, and as above explained will iirmly grip the thinnest grade of tissue paper.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. It is very simple and inexpensive, and can be readily applied to and removed from the leaf of a book, etc.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

l. A removable index-tag comprising a pair of spring tag plates having their rear edges curved inwardly, a plurality of concaved portions formed on each of said tag plates adjacent the center thereof, a plurality ofv conveXed portions formed on each of said tag plates between said concaved portions and in alinement therewith, a pivot pin carried between said concavo-conveXed portions for hingedly uniting said tag plates, a wedge member having a half-round head adapted to be interposed between the index portions of said tag plates, grooves formed in said wedge member adapted to receive the rear curved edges of said tag plates, and shoulders formed by means of said half-round head adapted to engage and protect the rear edges of the tag plates.

2. A removable index-tag comprising a pair of hingedly united spring tag plates, said plates having their rear edges curved inwardly, a T-shaped wedge member having a half-round head adapted to be inserted between the rear portions of said tag plates, a pair of grooves formed in said wedge member adapted to receive said inwardly curved edges of the tag plates to normally hold the wedge member in position, and a pair of shoulders formed by said half-round head adapted to engage the curved ends of the tag plates to form a protection therefor and provide a perfectly smooth rear edge.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to the specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN O. RICHARDS.

Witnesses GUY MCKENZIE, FREDK. J. LARsoN. 

